Animals escape cartel violence to find a new home on the coast

Animal Relocation Amid Sinaloa Cartel Violence

In a remarkable operation dubbed “Noah’s Ark of the 21st century,” hundreds of animals, including elephants, crocodiles, lions, and tigers, were moved from a violently ravaged area associated with Mexican cartels to safer environments.

The animals, which also included various exotic birds, are now housed at the Ostok Animal Reserve located near Kariakan, the capital of Sinaloa.

Administrators at the Animal Sanctuary reported that for months, they faced threats and theft of their trucks and equipment.

“We’re leaving because we’re taking the risk of something happening to me and my team,” said Ernesto Zazueta, who directs the shelter.

In total, around 700 animals were transported to coastal ranches.

Zazueta remarked, “This animal caravan is like Noah’s Ark in the 21st century. However, this time the animals haven’t escaped a flood—they are simply anxious and uneasy.”

Since September, Culiacán has been the center of a brutal conflict between rival factions of the Sinaloan drug cartel, with official reports stating over 1,200 deaths and more than 1,400 people missing.

The U.S. has classified the cartel as one of six Mexican drug trafficking groups labeled as terrorist organizations.

Regular challenges and armed skirmishes in the area made it increasingly tough for sanctuary workers to care for the animals.

“The health of animals has begun to suffer,” Zazueta noted, emphasizing the need for substantial amounts of beef and chicken every three days to feed them.

In preparation for a nearly 140-mile journey, workers sedated the most dangerous animals, including lions and tigers, before placing them in cages.

Transporting the elephants required significant resources, including two large containers and a massive crane.

The final destination for these animals is Bioparque El Encanto in Mazatlan, a resort town by the Pacific coast of Sinaloa, owned by local business interests, according to Zazueta.

Big cats and other exotic creatures have long been found in facilities owned by drug traffickers in Mexico.

Since the onset of violence in September, federal authorities have uncovered at least 14 large cats. Some were seized during police raids, while others were discovered in abandoned properties thought to be linked to criminal activities.

These animals were taken to the Ostok shelter, and their superintendent remarked that this large-scale relocation conveys a “painful message” about the dire conditions in Sinaloa’s capital.